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Abstract

SUMMARY

Comparison of the caloric value of the fat and protein lost to the body during starvation or food restriction with an estimate of the energy expenditure of the subject provides a simple way of detecting gross errors in body composition studies.

Application of this criterion to the data of three recent reports showed very marked discrepancies between the caloric equivalent of the weight loss and the estimate of energy expenditure of the subjects.

Further analysis of the original data is presented, and the various possible sources of error are discussed.